Immigration Blog Luba Smal Attorney at Law - Smal Immigration Law Office

Green Card or DV Lottery 2024 Can Check Status On May 6 2023

5/2/2023

DV-2024 or Green Card Lottery Entrants will be able to enter their confirmation information through the link below starting at noon (EDT) on May 6, 2023.

The DV-2024 registration period was opened from October 5, 2022, to November 8, 2022. DV-2024 Entrants should have kept their confirmation number until at least September 30, 2024 in order to check if they were selected as a winner.

The only one official government website where you can check your status is https://dvprogram.state.gov/

Briefly in Russian:

Результаты лотереи Грин карт на 2024 год можно будет проверить с 6 мая 2023 года по 30 сентября 2024 на одном единственном сайте госдепартамента США - dvprogram.state.gov

Для проверки нужен ваш конфирмационный номер или Confirmation Number, который вы получили при регистрации осенью 2022. .

Удачи!

DV 2024 Green Card Lottery Registration Period is from October 5 to November 8, 2022

9/26/2022

DV-2024 Program: Online Registration DV-2024 Program: The online registration period for the DV-2024 Program begins on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 12:00 noon EST, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4) and concludes on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at 12:00 noon EST, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5). 

Please NOTE: Submission of more than one entry for a person will disqualify all entries for that person.

DV-2024 Program Instructions
The English version of the DV-2024 Program Instructions in PDF format is the only official version.  Unofficial translations in additional languages will be added as they become available. 

Diversity Visa Program Information

See the Diversity Visa Program webpage for information about:

You can download and read the DV-2024 instructions in English here.

Unofficial translations to other languages will be published here as soon as available.

The ONLY official website where you can submit your entry into the DV-2024 lottery is the U.S. Department of state website https://dvprogram.state.gov/

Please beware of fraudulent website pretending to be official government websites.

The entry is FREE.

Briefly in Russian

С 5 октября по 8 ноября 2022 открыт период подачи заявок на лотерею Грин Карт на 2024 год. Подача заявки бесплатна. Только одна заявка на человека. Сохраните свой КОД. Без кода вы не сможете проверить статус вашей заявки в следующем году.

Подача заявок осуществляется онлайн на одном единственном официальном вебсайте Госдепа США тут https://dvprogram.state.gov/

Инструкции на английском тут . Их скоро должны перевести и опубликовать на других языках также.

Если вам нужна помощь или совет, пожалуйста обращайтесь по электронной почте.

Effective July 2022, Ukraine Immigrant Visa Applicants Can Have Medical Examination in Lviv, Ukraine

8/5/2022

Недавно что поменялись правила проведения медосмотра для иммиграционных виз для украинцев. Украинцы обращающиеся за иммиграционными визами, визами невесты, и грин картами через лотерею - теперь смогут пройти медосмотр во Львове на территории Украины. Это будет намного легче и быстрее!

МЕДИЦИНСКИЙ ОСМОТР В КИЕВЕ, УКРАИНА

Больница Шептицкого, ул. Озаркевича, 4, Львов, Украина
http://spital.org.ua/
Tel (044) 584 36 67 (044) 584 36 68 050 028 62 58 (Viber)
Email: [email protected]

Линк к посольству США в Варшаве.с этими новостями:

https://pl.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/medical-examination/

По линку по русски информация про медосмотр

https://pl.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/IV-F11-RUS-medical-exam-info-Jul-2022.pdf

Важная информация о требованиях вакцинации от COVID-19 для детей!
Согласно требованиям Центра по контролю и профилактике заболеваний, с 25 июля 2022 года все дети в возрасте 6 месяцев и старше должны быть полностью вакцинированы против COVID-19. Полный цикл состоит из 3 доз вакцины Pfizer или 2 доз вакцины Moderna. Полная вакцинация ребенка от COVID-19 может занять не менее 12 недель.
Жителям России и Белоруссии рекомендуем проходить медицинское обследование в Москве или Минске. As of September 8, 2021, applicants who are processing their immigrant visa case in Warsaw may visit a panel physician in Moscow for the required medical examination.
As of July 2022 visa applicants from Ukraine may now undergo medical examination at the Sheptytskyy Hospital in Lviv.

Briefly in English:

Recently, the US embassy in Warsaw, Poland designated a medical clinic in Lviv, Ukraine to administer medical exams (form I-693) required for Ukrainians applying for immigrant visas and fiancee visas.

Embassy posted updated information here.

It should speed up significantly process of preparing for an immigrant visa interview.

DV-2023 Green Card Lottery Period: October 6 2021 to November 9 2021

10/1/2021

DV-2023 Program: Online Registration will begin on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5).

Individuals who submit more than one entry during the registration period will be disqualified.
DV-2023 Program Instructions:

Announcement:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/diversity-visa-program-entry/diversity-visa-instructions.html

Instructions for the DV-2023 lottery are here:
https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Diversity-Visa/DV-Instructions-Translations/DV-2023-Instructions-Translations/DV-2023-Instructions-English.pdf

The only official website where entries can be submitted is the U.S. Department of State website:
https://dvprogram.state.gov/

If you need help or have questions or want to schedule a consultation with an immigration attorney, please email at [email protected]

What to do if you are selected as a Winner in the DV or Green Card Lottery?

5/30/2021

DV Lottery: What to do if you are selected as a winner in the DV or Green Card Lottery?

Selected entrants are encouraged to complete the online DS-260 application immediately to schedule an interview appointment at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Please note: The Department of State will not mail notification letters or notify selectees by email. U.S. embassies and consulates will not provide a list of selectees. Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website is the ONLY means by which the Department of State notifies selectees of their selection.

If you receive notification through the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website that you have been selected for further processing in the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program, you must successfully complete the steps on the following pages before a consular interview can be scheduled to determine if you will receive a visa. You should complete these steps as soon as possible.

If you receive notification through the E-DV website that you have been selected for further processing in the DV Program, and you are physically present in the United States, you may be eligible to adjust status to obtain permanent residence through the DV Program. For more information, see Adjustment of Status. Consult an attorney to see if you are eligible for adjustment of status.

DV visa fee payment instructions are here.

It is important to remember that selection does not guarantee you will receive a visa. In order to receive a DV to immigrate to the United States, selectees must still meet all eligibility requirements under U.S. law.

The only site where you can enter into DV lottery and later check the results is https://dvlottery.state.gov/

Read more about the DV process here.

Read about Adjustment of status here.

DV 2020 Lottery How an IV Interview Can be Rescheduled After COVID-19 Cancellation

5/21/2020

Q: Is there any chance to reschedule an immigrant visa interview for the DV Lottery 2020? A visa interview was cancelled because of COVID-19.

A: A DV immigrant visa interview for FY 2020 must be rescheduled before September 30, 2020, and a visa has to be issued before September 30th, or the chance to immigrate through a Green Card lottery for this FY will be lost.

The embassies and consulates are currently closed because of COVID-19. If the case is pending at the U.S. embassy or Consulate, when they reopen, contact the consulate directly and without delay. They should be rescheduling everyone when they reopen. If the case is still at the NVC stage, you can contact NVC directly even now. NVC is currently open.

If you applied for adjustment of status and the case is pending at the local USCIS office, USCIS will begin rescheduling soon. USCIS had previously announced that they plan to reopen local offices on or after June 4, 2020. This date might change.

When the results of the DV 2021 Green Card lottery will be available?

5/4/2020

On or after June 6, 2020 at only one website at https://dvprogram.state.gov/ DV-2021 Entrants may enter their confirmation information through the link below starting at noon (EDT) on June 6, 2020. The DV-2021 registration period opened on October 2, 2019, and closed on November 5, 2019. DV-2021 Entrants should keep their confirmation number until at least September 30, 2021.

Presidential Proclamation Bars New Immigrants Without Health Insurance Effective Nov 3, 2019

10/8/2019

On Friday, October 4, 2019, Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation that would bar new immigrants from entering the United States without health insurance.

The proclamation excludes from the United States new lawful immigrants who cannot show the ability to purchase unsubsidized commercial health insurance within 30 days of entry, unless exceptions apply. It will prevent otherwise eligible immigrants coming in from abroad from being issued visas to enter the U.S. if they lack the financial ability to purchase unsubsidized health insurance. That means that prospective immigrants potentially could be barred from the United States unless they can find a way to purchase health insurance outside of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges.

One way to satisfy the requirement of being able to purchase health insurance is to have actually purchased health insurance, though it is not yet clear whether it will be necessary to do so. It might be possible to satisfy consular officers, for example, by showing sufficient financial resources to purchase insurance after one arrives in the United States.

Because immigrant visa issuance is over 80% family-based immigrants, the proclamation will disproportionately impact those immigrating based on family ties, rather than employment-based immigrants. (Employment-based immigrants usually adjust status inside the United States.) Another significant impact will be on winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery, who are predominately from African countries, as most of those selected through that program enter the United States with immigrant visas rather than being able to adjust status in the United States.

As published, the proclamation only affects NEW immigrants applying for immigrant visas at the U.S. consulates and embassies abroad (those issued an immigrant visa on or after November 3, 2019, the effective date of the proclamation). It does not apply to nonimmigrants entering on any temporary visa, including H-1B visa holders, L-1 intracompany transferees, international students and scholars, visitors for business, tourists or entries for any other temporary purpose. It also does not apply to refugees, returning residents, people who are adjusting status in the USA.

Anyone who is able to adjust status from within the United States, rather than filing for an immigrant visa, should do so, because adjustment of status is outside the scope of the proclamation. Also, anyone able to get their immigrant visa this month should not delay their application and should review their documentary qualification with an immigration lawyer to be sure they can receive their visa before November 3, 2019.

Much of the practical effect of this proclamation will have to await implementing instructions from the State Department to consular posts.

Which forms of health insurance are “approved” under the proclamation?“Approved” health insurance under the proclamation includes:

employer-sponsored health plans
unsubsidized plans purchased on the individual market
non–Affordable Care Act (ACA)–compliant short-term health plans authorized by the Trump administration
catastrophic plans
family members’ plans
TRICARE plans or other coverage for military members and veterans
visitor health insurance plans
Medicare plans
other health plans as determined by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

Medicaid is acceptable for children age 18 and younger, but subsidized ACA plans are not acceptable for either adults or children.

Who is exempt from the proclamation’s requirements? Certain categories of immigrants are exempt from the proclamation’s requirements, including:

anyone issued a visa prior to the effective date (Nov. 3, 2019)
LPRs returning after a long absence
unmarried children and adoptees of U.S. citizens
people seeking Iraq/Afghani Special Immigrant visas
children under age 18, unless accompanying parents subject to the proclamation
parents of adult U.S. citizens, if they can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the consular officer that their health care will not impose a substantial burden on the U.S. health care system
people whose entry would advance law enforcement objectives or would be in the national interest

The proclamation further states that it should not be construed to affect any individual’s eligibility for asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture.

Briefly in Russian:

Новая Прокламация Президента США вступает в силу 3 ноября 2019 и требует наличия медицинской страховки для всех *новых* иммигрантов в США. По этой прокламации, которая не была утверждена Конгрессом, а только подписана Президентом, почти все иммигранты, подавшие документы на американскую иммиграционную визу, должны иметь страховку или достаточно денег, чтобы оплатить медицинские расходы в США. Если у иммигрантов нет страховки и денег, то визу они не получат и иммигрировать в США не смогут. Новое правило относится только к тем, кто подает на визу за рубежом, в том числе к супругам и родителям граждан США.

Новое правило - если оно останется в силе - коснется тех, кто спонсирует своих родителей, детей, а также победителей Лотереи грин карт.

Новое правило не относится к тем, кто получает грин карту через процесс adjustment of status, не выезжая из США. Поэтому если у вас есть возможность выбрать, то adjustment of status возможно лучший вариант для многих.

Не попадают под правило резиденты, которые находились за пределами США больше года, просители убежища, беженцы и их дети, а также те, у кого уже есть действующая иммиграционная виза, полученная до 3 ноября 2019.

DV or Green Card Lottery 2021 registration period open from October 2 to November 5, 2019

10/1/2019

DV or Green Card Lottery 2021 registration period open from October 2 to November 5, 2019:

Applicants must submit entries for the DV-2021 program electronically at dvlottery.state.gov between
noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), Wednesday, October 2, 2019, and noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST), Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Do not wait until the last week of the registration period to enter, as heavy demand may result in website delays. No late entries or paper entries will be accepted.

The law allows only one entry per person during each registration period. Individuals with more than one entry will be disqualified.

For DV-2021, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

Eligibility:

Requirement #1: Individuals born in countries whose natives qualify may be eligible to enter.
If you were not born in an eligible country, there are two other ways you might be able to qualify.
 Was your spouse born in a country whose natives are eligible? If yes, you can claim your spouse’s country of birth – provided that both you and your spouse are named on the selected entry, are found eligible and issued diversity visas, and enter the United States simultaneously.
 Were you born in a country whose natives are ineligible, but in which neither of your parents was born or legally resident at the time of your birth? If yes, you may claim the country of birth of one of your parents if it is a country whose natives are eligible for the DV-2021 program.

Requirement #2: Each DV applicant must meet the education/work experience requirement of the DV
program by having either:
 at least a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year
course of formal elementary and secondary education;
OR
 two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform. The Department of State will use the U.S. Department
of Labor’s O*Net Online database to determine qualifying work experience.

NEW Passport Requirement: A green card lottery entry includes a question about your valid and unexpired passport . If you have no passport, you may not apply, unless you fall under a narrow exception:
a) Stateless (no nationality of any country),
b) A national of a Communist-controlled country, and unable to obtain a passport from my government,
c) Unable to obtain a passport, and have received an individual waiver of the passport requirement by the Secretary of Homeland Security or Secretary of State.

Do not submit an entry to the DV program unless you meet both of these requirements.

If you need help, please contact us at [email protected]

Read more here: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Diversity-Visa/DV-Instructions-Translations/DV-2021-Instructions-Translations/DV-2021-Instructions-English.pdf

DV-2020 Green Card Lottery Registration Period Oct 3 to Nov 6, 2018

9/25/2018

DV-2020 Program: Online Registration

DV-2020 Program: The revised online registration period for the DV-2020 Program begins on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-4). Individuals who submit more than one entry during the registration period will be disqualified.

DV-2020 Program Instructions

The English version of the DV-2020 Program Instructions in PDF format are provided here. The English language version of the DV-2020 Program Instructions is the only official translation.

Note: If you do not see instructions in your native language, please see the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website to find out whether your country may have additional Diversity Visa information.

DV-2019 Translations (unofficial) are here.

See the Diversity Visa Program webpage for information about:

Briefly in Russian:

С 3 октября 2018 в 12:00 по EST по 6 ноября 2018 12:00 по EST времени продлится регистрация на участие в лотерее грин карт на 2020 год.

Как всегда, совет такой - лучше подать заявку пораньше, так как в последние дни могут возникнуть проблемы на сайте из-за большого количества заявок.

Помните, что каждый год всплывает множество мошенников, якобы предлагающих вам регистрацию через их сайты.

На самом деле всего один официальный сайт для приема заявок на Лотерею Грин Карт. Вам необходимо заполнить онлайн-форму Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form или DS-5501 на официальном сайте Госдепа США https://dvlottery.state.gov/. Сайт начнет работу 3 октября в полдень.

DV 2019 Green Card Lottery: Registration Period Will Restart From Oct 18 to Nov 22, 2017

10/16/2017

Due to technical issues, the registration period for DV-2019 is being restarted, and all entries made prior to October 18, 2017, will need to be resubmitted for the entrant to be considered.

The new registration period for DV-2019 opens for electronic entries at 11:00am, Wednesday, October 18, 2017, and closes at 11:00am, Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

If you entered before Wednesday, October 18, 2017, that entry will not be considered, and you will need to submit another entry during the new registration period. You may submit one new entry without being disqualified for submitting multiple entries. Individuals who submit more than one entry during the new registration period will be disqualified.

Applicants can access the electronic DV entry form (E-DV) at the official E-DV website, dvlottery.state.gov, during the registration period. DV instructions also are available on the Department of State’s public webpage at usvisas.state.gov/dv/instructions.

All other eligibility requirements remain the same.
Q: How many DV entries does the Department expect for DV-2019?
In DV-2018, the last year for which numbers are available, we received more than 14 million entries from principal applicants.
Q: How will the Department notify applicants whose entries are not valid?
The Department will send an automated email notification to each Diversity Visa entrant from whom an entry was received before October 18, 2017, using the email address provided on the lottery entry form, directing the entrant to check the website dvlottery.state.gov for an important announcement.

Beginning May 15, 2018, DV-2019 entrants will be able to use their unique confirmation number provided at registration to check the online Entrant Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov to see if their entry was selected. Entrant Status Check will inform successful entrants how to apply for DVs for themselves and their eligible family members. The Department also will confirm visa interview appointments through the Entrant Status Check.

Announcement and FAQs are here.

As of today, the electronic Diversity Visa Lottery website is "under maintenance".

Briefly in Russian:

Из-за технических трудностей с регистрацией страны заявителей, Госдеп США аннулировал все заявки на Лотерею Грин Карт, поданные до 18 октября 2017, и объявил новый период регистрации на Лотерею грин карт на 2019 -- с 18 октября по 22 ноября 2017.

Всем заявителям обещают прислать емейл с инструкциями.

В настоящее время вебсайт Госдепа США, где осуществяется прием заявок, не работает, и откроется только 18 октября.

Это значит, что вам нужно будет подать новую заявку после 18 октября 2017, чтобы получить шанс на участие в лотерее на 2019 год. Удачи!

DV Lottery 2019 Green Card Lottery Registration: October 3, 2017 to November 7, 2017

9/16/2017

Registration for DV 2019 or Green Card Lottery Program for 2019 year will be open from October 3, 2017 until November 7, 2017.

Applicants must submit entries for the DV-2019 DV program electronically at dvlottery.state.gov between noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 3, 2017, and noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5), Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

Do not wait until the last week of the registration period to enter, as heavy demand may result in website delays. No late entries or paper entries will be accepted.

The law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. The Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries. Individuals with more than one entry will be disqualified.

For DV-2019, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

There are no changes in eligibility this year.

After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation screen that contains your name and a unique confirmation number. Print this confirmation screen for your records. It is extremely important that you retain your confirmation page and unique confirmation number. Without this information, you will not be able to access the online system that will inform you of the status of your entry.

You also should retain access to the email account listed in the E-DV.

Starting May 1, 2018, you will be able to check the status of your entry by returning to dvlottery.state.gov, clicking on Entrant Status Check, and entering your unique confirmation number and personal information. Entrant Status Check will be the sole means of informing you of your selection for DV-2019, providing instructions on how to proceed with your application, and notifying you of your appointment for your immigrant visa interview.

The rules are here.

Briefly in-Russian:

Период подачи заявок на Лотерею грин карт на 2019 год открывается 3 октября и продлится до 7 ноября 2017.

Заявки могут быть поданы только онлайн на вебсайте Госдепа США: dvlottery.state.gov .

Не разрешено подавать более одной заявки на человека, за это дисквалифицируют.

После 1 мая 2018 можно будет проверить статус своей заявки онлайн на том же вебсайте Госдепа США. Поэтому крайне важно сохранить ваш конфирмационный номер и иметь доступ к адресу электронной почты, который вы указали в своей заявке.

Помните, что никто вам не будет присылать ни писем по почте, ни по электронной почте, с сообщением о выигрыше (если вы такие письма получите, это мошенничество). Единственный способ убедиться в том, что вы победитель, это проверить свой конфирмационнй номер онлайн.

Если вам будет нужна помощь, мы будем рады помочь! Каждый год мы оказываем помощь с правильной подачей заявок в лотерею, и также победителям лотереи грин карт в получении вида на жительство в США.

Тут опубликованы правила лотереи на 2019.

DV Visa or Green Card Lottery Applicants from 6 Countries Affected by Travel Ban

6/29/2017

On June 29, 2017, the U.S. Department of State sent out a cable, explaining how the US consulates will continue issuing (or denying) various visas to applicants from 6 predominantly Muslim countries, affected by the Executive Order's Travel Ban (Libya, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan).

People who were selected as winners in the 2017 DV Lottery or Green Card Lottery appear to be in the worst situation. Only some of them will be issued immigrant DV visas, if they can prove required "bona fide relationship" or qualify for en exemption or a waiver. The 2017 DV Lottery period will end on September 30, 2017, and the travel ban effective period of 90 days will end on or around September 29, 2017.

It's anticipated even by the US Department of State officials that the majority of the otherwise eligible applicants who paid the visa fee, attended their visa interviews will be denied a visa under 221(g) in accordance with the president's executive order and its most recent interpretation by the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Department of State.

The US DoS says in the cable: "Based on the Department’s experience with the DV program , we anticipate that very few DV applicants are likely to be exempt from the E.O.’s suspension of
entry or to qualify for a waiver."

The full text of the U.S. Dept of State cable is here.

(SBU) Diversity Visas.

8. (SBU) For Diversity Visa (DV) applicants already scheduled for
interviews falling after the E.O. implementation date of 8:00 p.m. EDTJune
29, 2017, post should interview the applicants. Posts
should interview applicants following these procedures:

a.) Officers should first determine whether the applicant is eligible for the
DV, without regard to the E.O. If the applicant is not eligible, the
application should be refused according to standard procedures.

b.) If an applicant is found otherwise eligible, the consular officer will need
to determine during the interview whether the applicant is exempt from the
E.O.’s suspension of entry provision (see paragraphs 10-13), and if not,
whether the applicant qualifies for a waiver (paragraphs 14 and 15).

c.) DV applicants who are not exempt from the E.O.’s suspension of entry
provision and who do not qualify for a waiver should be refused 221(g) and the
consular officer should request an advisory opinion from VO/L/A following
current guidance in 9 FAM 304.3-1.

Based on the Department’s experience with the DV program, we anticipate that
very few DV applicants are likely to be exempt from the E.O.’s suspension of
entry or to qualify for a waiver. CA will notify DV applicants from the
affected nationalities with scheduled interviews of the additional criteria to
allow the potential applicants to determine whether they wish to pursue their
application.

9. (SBU) The Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will continue to schedule
additional DV-2017 appointments for cases in which the principal applicant is
from one of these six nationalities. While the Department is mindful of
the requirement to issue Diversity Visas prior to the end of the Fiscal
Year on September 30, direction and
guidance to resume normal processing of visas following the 90-day suspension
will be sent septel.

Executive order's suspension (or travel ban) to be enforced only against foreign
nationals who lack a “bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the
United States.”

What does it take, for example, to establish that a DV visa applicant has required "bona fide relationsip" with a family member in the United States?

"11. (SBU) “Close family” is defined as a parent (including
parent-in-law), spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, sibling, whether whole or half. This includes step
relationships. “Close family” does not include grandparents,
grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-laws and
sisters-in-law, fiancés, and any other “extended” family members."

See more here.

DV 2018 Green Card Lottery Rules and Instructions

9/21/2016

On September 16, 2016, DOS Department of State issued a cable describing a green card lottery process for the next fiscal year: the 2018 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.

For DV-2018, there is one change to the eligible countries list: Ecuador is once again eligible.

See here. Or you can download the document here.

If you need help submitting your entry into the DV-2018 lottery program, please email and we will forward to you our Questionnaire and DV program instructions (in English or in Russian).

The DV-2018 program registration period will run from noon, EDT on October 4, 2016, through noon, EST November 7, 2016.

Entrants may prepare and submit their own entries or have someone submit the entry for them. Whether the individual submits an entry directly, or an attorney, friend, relative, etc. provides assistance, only one entry may be submitted in the name of each individual, and the entrant remains responsible for ensuring that the information is correct and complete.

All entrants, including those not selected, will be able to check the status of their entry through the Entrant Status Check available at dvlottery.state.gov.

The law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. Entrants who submit more than one entry will be disqualified.

Applicants must submit a recent photo taken within the last six months. Entries that include the same photo from the last DV year (DV-2017) will be disqualified.

Please refer to the DV-2018 Instructions at usvisas.state.gov/dv/instructions for complete program rules and answers to Frequently Asked Questions from entrants.

DV 2017 Program or Green Card Lottery registration period opens on October 01, 2015 and ends on November 03, 2015. Период регистрации в лотерею грин карт на 2017 год начанается 1 октября и зака

9/30/2015

DV-2017 Program: Online Registration DV 2017 Program begins on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-4).

DV-2017 lottery entries can be submitted online at only one official US Department of State website.

On September 30th 2015, US Department of State published the official DV-2017 Program Instructions in English - DV-2017 Program Instructions in PDF format. The English language version of the DV-2017 Program Instructions is the only official version.

Unofficial translations in additional languages will be added as they become available.

Note: If you do not see instructions in your native language, please see the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website to find out whether your country may have additional Diversity Visa information.

You can find official US Department of State DV-2017 lottery instructions here: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/diversity-visa/instructions.html

For DV-2017, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

I would like to highlight several important requirements:

12. Highest level of education you have achieved, as of today: (1) Primary school only, (2) Some high school, no diploma, (3) High school diploma, (4) Vocational school, (5) Some university courses, (6) University degree, (7) Some graduate-level courses, (8) Master’s degree, (9) Some doctoral level courses, and (10) Doctorate. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about educational requirements.

13. Current marital status – Unmarried, married and my spouse is NOT a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), married and my spouse IS a U.S. citizen or U.S. LPR, divorced, widowed, or legally separated. Enter the name, date of birth, gender, city/town of birth, and country of birth of your spouse, and a photograph of your spouse meeting the same technical specifications as your photo. Failure to list your eligible spouse will result in your disqualification as the Diversity Visa principal applicant and refusal of all visa applications in your case at the time of the visa interview. You must list your spouse even if you plan to be divorced before you apply for a visa. A spouse who is already a U.S. citizen or LPR will not require or be issued a visa, though you will not be penalized if you list them on your entry form. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about family members.

14. Number of children – List the name, date of birth, gender, city/town of birth, and country of birth for all living unmarried children under 21 years of age, regardless of whether they are living with you or intend to accompany or follow to join you, should you immigrate to the United States. Submit individual photographs of each of your children using the same technical specifications as your own photograph.

Be sure to include: 
*all living natural children; 
*all living children legally adopted by you; and, 
*all living step-children who are unmarried and under the age of 21 on the date of your electronic entry, even if you are no longer legally married to the child’s parent, and even if the child does not currently reside with you and/or will not immigrate with you.

Married children and children who are already aged 21 or older when you submit your entry are not eligible for the DV program. However, the Child Status Protection Act protects children from “aging out” in certain circumstances. If your DV entry is made before your unmarried child turns 21, and the child turns 21 before visa issuance, he/she may be treated as though he/she were under 21 for visa-processing purposes.

A child who is already a U.S. citizen or LPR is not eligible for a Diversity Visa; you will not be penalized for either including or omitting such family members from your entry. Failure to list all children who are eligible will result in disqualification of the principal applicant and refusal of all visa applications in the case at the time of the visa interview.

After May 01, 2016, you will be able to check your status online at another US Department of State website to see if you have been selected a winner.

We would be glad to help you to submit your DV-2017 entries properly and timely. After submitting an entry, we always save and forward to our clients confirmation pages. Please email us first and we will forward to you our brief instructions.

In Russian:

Сегодня Госдеп США наконец-то опубликовал официальные инструкции для подачи заявок в Лотерею Грин Карт на 2017 год. Прием заявок осуществляется онлайн только на одном официальном вебсайте Госдепа США.

Подача заявок через какие-то другие вебсайты не допускается. Таких "неофициальных, но выглядящих вполне легитимно" вебсайтов множество, и они выдают себя за организации как-то связанные с Госдепом, и прикрываются официальными эмблемами США, но это обычное мошенничество.

Если вам помогает адвокат или другой профессионал правильно подать заявку в лотерею, после подачи заявки они должны предоставить вам конфирмационный номер, а еще лучше сохранить и выслать по электронной почте саму конфирмационную страницу с номером и вашей биографической информацией.

Повторные заявки в течение одного периода подачи не допускаются. Ошибки не исправить после подачи заявки. Требования к фото строгие.

Начало приема заявок 01 октября 2015, и заканчивается подача заявок 03 ноября 2015.

Вы сможете узнать выбрали ли вас победителем только после 01 мая 2016, когда на особом вебсайте Госдепа США вы сможете ввести свои данные и получить ответ на вопрос: являетесь ли вы победителем.

Затем, вы перейдете на следующий этап: подача заявления на визу для себя и членов вашей семьи. На этом этапе рекомендуется пользоваться услугами квалифицированного американского иммиграционного адвоката, чтобы избежать ошибок или отказа из-за "глупости". Кстати, очень часто отказывают в грин картах по лотерее именно из-за "глупостей", которые не прощаются (например, "забыл" указать ребенка жены от первого брака, решил не указывать новорожденного ребенка рожденного вне брака "как же его сфотографируешь?" и т.п.). Поэтому может быть полезна помощь адвоката и при подаче заявки в лотерею.

Если вам нужна помощь, мы будем рады помочь правильно подать заявки на всех членов семьи, и позже с получением грин карты если вас выбрали победителем лотереи. Обращайтесь к нам по электронной почте, и мы вам вышлем список попросов и условия оплаты.

Common Immigration Scams: helpful tips from USCIS how to avoid becoming a victim of immigration fraud or scam.

6/16/2015

Immigration scam by a local business.

On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions. However, not all of these initiatives have been implemented, and USCIS is not accepting any DAPA or expanded DACA applications at this time.

Beware of anyone who offers to help you submit an application or a request for any of these actions before they are available. You could become a victim of an immigration scam.

If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure that the person you rely on is an attorney who is authorized to give you legal advice. Only an attorney or an accredited representative working for a Board of Immigration Appeals-recognized organization can give you legal advice. An immigration attorney can be licensed in any state because immigration law is federal law. It's important to consult an experienced and knowledgeable attorney before submitting any immigration applications.

The Internet, newspapers, radio, community bulletin boards and local businesses storefronts are filled with advertisements offering immigration help. Not all of this information is from attorneys and accredited representatives. There is a lot of information that comes from organizations and individuals who are not authorized to give you legal advice, such as “notarios” and other unauthorized representatives. The wrong help can hurt. Here is some important information that can help you avoid common immigration scams.

Here are some examples of common immigration scams:

**Telephone Scams**.

Do not fall victim to telephone scammers posing as USCIS personnel or other government officials. In most instances, scammers will:

request personal information (Social Security number, Passport number, or A-number);
identify false problems with your immigration record; and
ask for payment to correct the records.

If a scammer calls you, say “No, thank you” and hang up. These phone calls are being made by immigration scammers attempting to take your money and your credit card information. USCIS will not call you to ask for any form of payment over the phone. Don’t give payment over the phone to anyone who claims to be a USCIS official.

If you have been a victim of this telephone scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn more about telephone scams and telephone scammers’ techniques by visiting Federal Trade Commission-Telemarketing-Scams.

**"Notario Publico"**.

In many Latin American countries, the term “notario publico” (for “notary public”) stands for something very different than what it means in the United States. In many Spanish-speaking nations, “notarios” are powerful attorneys with special legal credentials. In the U.S., however, notary publics are people appointed by state governments to witness the signing of important documents and administer oaths. "Notarios publico,” are not authorized to provide you with any legal services related to immigration.

Please see the National Notary Association website "What is a Notary Public" for more information.

**Local Businesses who are not law firms and not attorneys or lawyers**.

Some businesses in your community “guarantee” they can get you benefits such as a:

Visa
Green Card
Employment Authorization Document

These businesses sometimes charge you a higher fee to file the application than even a licensed attorney (but will tell you that attorneys charge more "for the same work"). They claim they can do this faster than if you applied directly with USCIS. These claims are false.

**Dot-com websites - operated by non-attorneys or people not authorized to give legal advice**.

Some websites offering step-by-step guidance on completing a USCIS application or petition will claim to be affiliated with USCIS. Many of these websites are scammers or fraudsters, often taking money for blank forms or minimal assistance without attorney supervision.

USCIS has its own official website: www.uscis.gov with:

Free downloadable forms
Form Instructions
Information on filing fees and processing times

Do not pay for blank USCIS forms either in person or over the Internet. You can download forms for free at www.uscis.gov.

Do not pay to a non-attorney (not a lawyer) for help with immigration paperwork, applications, affidavit. Oftentimes, they give you wrong advice and can potentially damage your chances of ever becoming a permanent resident (getting a green card).

**Green Card Lottery or DV Lottery scams**.

Once a year in fall, the Department of State (DOS) makes 50,000 diversity visas (DVs) available via random selection to persons meeting strict eligibility requirements and who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. During this time or often around the year, it is common for immigration scammers to advertise in emails or websites that reference either the:

DV lottery
Visa lottery
Green Card lottery

These emails and websites often claim that they can make it easier to enter the annual Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Some scammers even identify you as a DV lottery “winner” and ask for significant amount of money "helping get a visa". These emails and websites are fraudulent.

The only way to apply for the DV lottery is through an official government application process (Department of State website, and only when it's open, during an application period which is usually in October-November only). DOS does not send emails to applicants.

On or after May 1st, you can visit the Department of State website to verify if you are actually a winner in the DV lottery.

If need help, consult a licensed attorney (not one of the "green card lottery" websites).

**INS doesn't exist. It's been replaced by DHS and USCIS**.

To this day, some local businesses, websites, "notarios" and individuals make reference to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This agency no longer exists!

If someone refers to USCIS as "INS", it's a sign that they are not an attorney, but rather someone unqualified with little knowledge in immigration matters.

INS was dismantled on March 1, 2003, and most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the component that grants immigration benefits. The other two components are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

All official correspondence regarding your immigration case will come from USCIS. USCIS will communicate with you and your attorney by mail, by mailing you notices, approved work permit and green card through USPS (postal service).

If you need a legal assistance, we will be glad to help. Our contact information is here.

Read here.

DV-2016 Green Card Lottery update from the US Department of State. More than 11 million applications submitted - only 50000 green cards are available annually in this lottery. Visa issuance period starts on October 1, 2015 and ends on September 30, 2016.

6/9/2015

Applicants from all over the world who registered for the DV-2016 program were selected at random from 11,391,134 qualified entries (17,573,350 with derivatives) received during the application period that ran from noon, Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 until noon, Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, November 3, 2014.

The visas have been apportioned among six geographic regions with a maximum of seven percent available to persons born in any single country.

The Kentucky Consular Center registered and notified the winners of the DV-2016 diversity lottery. Approximately 91,563 applicants have been registered and notified and may now make an application for an immigrant visa (so called"selectees" or "winners"). Some of the first *50,000 persons registered will not pursue their cases to visa issuance, this larger number (91,563 selectees) should insure that all DV-2016 numbers will be used during fiscal year 2016 (October 1, 2015 until September 30, 2016).

During the visa interview, principal applicants must provide proof of a high school education or its equivalent, or show two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience within the past five years. Those selected will need to act on their immigrant visa applications quickly. Applicants should follow the instructions in their notification letter and must fully complete the information requested.

Registrants living legally in the United States who wish to apply for adjustment of status instead of consular processing of their visas, must apply through USCIS Department of Homeland Security (** Please note that you have to be eligible for adjustment of status. Therefore, if you were selected as a winner in the Green Card lottery and you live in the United States, it's advisable to consult an experienced attorney before applying for your green card).

Once the total *50,000 visa numbers have been used, the program for fiscal year 2016 will end. Selected applicants (aka "selectees" or "winners") who do not receive visas by September 30, 2016 will derive no further benefit from their DV-2016 registration. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2016 principal applicants are only entitled to derivative diversity visa status until September 30, 2016.

Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. This resulted in reduction of the DV-2015 annual limit to 50,000. DV visas are divided among six geographic regions. No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.

P.S. Our office would be happy to assist you with your DV visa application or adjustment of status should you be selected as a winner. Please email us to schedule a phone or Skype consultation. Please remember that a visa must be issued prior to September 30th of the current fiscal year (09-30-2016 for DV-2016 winners). No visas will be issued after this date. If selected as a winner you should act fast and submit your applications and required documents in a timely matter. Assistance of a qualified and experienced immigration attorney would be of great help to many.

The following is the statistical breakdown by foreign-state chargeability of those registered for the DV-2016 program:

AFRICA

ALGERIA  1,952

ETHIOPIA 4,000

NIGER 102

ANGOLA  108

GABON 32

RWANDA 412

BENIN  914

GAMBIA, THE 67

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE 2

BOTSWANA  4

GHANA 3,179

SENEGAL 427

BURKINA FASO 199

GUINEA 1,818

SEYCHELLES 0

BURUNDI 208

GUINEA-BISSAU 4

SIERRA LEONE 2,141

CABO VERDE 6

KENYA 2,729

SOMALIA 272

CAMEROON 3,047

LESOTHO 5

SOUTH AFRICA 535

CENTRAL AFRICAN REP. 23

LIBERIA 4,430

SOUTH SUDAN 17

CHAD  40

LIBYA 240

SUDAN 3,216

COMOROS  3

MADAGASCAR 75

SWAZILAND 7

CONGO 124

MALAWI 17

TANZANIA 93

CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE 4,475

MALI 114

TOGO 1,241

COTE D’IVOIRE 1,129

MAURITANIA 15

TUNISIA 227

DJIBOUTI 92

MAURITIUS 41

UGANDA 453

EGYPT  4,024

MOROCCO 1,993

ZAMBIA 57

EQUATORIAL GUINEA 0

MOZAMBIQUE 11

ZIMBABWE 152

ERITREA 544

NAMIBIA 18

ASIA

AFGHANISTAN 406

JAPAN 302

QATAR 42

BAHRAIN 13

JORDAN 349

SAUDI ARABIA 267

BHUTAN 22

NORTH KOREA 0

SINGAPORE 39

BRUNEI 1

KUWAIT 143

SRI LANKA 704

BURMA 236

LAOS 1

SYRIA 460

CAMBODIA 1,229

LEBANON 225

TAIWAN 297

HONG KONG SPECIAL
ADMIN. REGION 151

MALAYSIA 95

THAILAND 73

INDONESIA 126

MALDIVES 3

TIMOR-LESTE 0

IRAN 4,501

MONGOLIA 185

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 103

IRAQ 330

NEPAL 3,801

YEMEN 724

ISRAEL 162

OMAN 12

EUROPE

ALBANIA 1,931

GREECE 93

NORWAY 35

ANDORRA 0

HUNGARY 186

POLAND 629

ARMENIA 1,277

ICELAND 3

PORTUGAL 58

AUSTRIA 50

IRELAND 89

Macau 23

AZERBAIJAN 380

ITALY 410

ROMANIA 626

BELARUS 811

KAZAKHSTAN 376

RUSSIA 2,200

BELGIUM 47

KOSOVO 244

SAN MARINO 0

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 92

KYRGYZSTAN 209

SERBIA 283

BULGARIA 865

LATVIA 73

SLOVAKIA 70

CROATIA 67

LIECHTENSTEIN 0

SLOVENIA 33

CYPRUS 28

LITHUANIA 153

SPAIN 193

CZECH REPUBLIC 74

LUXEMBOURG 0

SWEDEN 108

DENMARK 35

MACEDONIA 258

SWITZERLAND 122

ESTONIA 40

MALTA 0

TAJIKISTAN 337

FINLAND 57

MOLDOVA 1,854

TURKEY 1,795

FRANCE 510

MONACO 0

TURKMENISTAN 124

French Polynesia 1

MONTENEGRO 8

UKRAINE 4,507

Saint Martin 1

NETHERLANDS 81

UZBEKISTAN 4,300

Wallis and Futuna 1

Aruba 4

VATICAN CITY 0

GEORGIA  571

Curacao 2

GERMANY 678

NORTHERN IRELAND 9

NORTH AMERICA

BAHAMAS, THE 16

OCEANIA

AUSTRALIA 832

NAURU 12

SAMOA 5

Cocos Islands 1

NEW ZEALAND 208

SOLOMON ISLANDS 0

FIJI 393

Cook Islands 4

TONGA 26

KIRIBATI 4

PALAU 4

TUVALU 0

MARSHALL ISLANDS 0

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 3

VANUATU 5

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF 3

SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA 0

DOMINICA 6

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS 2

ARGENTINA 68

GRENADA 7

SAINT LUCIA 5

BARBADOS 0

GUATEMALA 31

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 7

BELIZE 0

GUYANA 14

SURINAME 3

BOLIVIA 49

HONDURAS 73

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 51

CHILE 17

NICARAGUA 58

URUGUAY 21

COSTA RICA 50

PANAMA 5

VENEZUELA 1,038

CUBA 1,488

PARAGUAY 7

P.S. Natives of the following countries were not eligible to participate in DV-2016: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born, excluding Hong Kong S.A.R., Macau S.A.R., and Taiwan), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Our office would be happy to assist you with your DV visa application or adjustment of status should you be selected as a winner. Please email us to schedule a phone or Skype consultation. Please remember that a visa must be issued prior to September 30th of the current fiscal year (09-30-2016 for DV-2016 winners). No visas will be issued after this date. If selected as a winner you should act fast and submit your applications and required documents in a timely matter. Assistance of a qualified and experienced immigration attorney would be of great help to many.

It's time to check your DV 2016 Green Card Lottery number to see if you have been selected as a WINNER!

5/6/2015

Did you apply for the 2016 DV lottery? It's time to find your DV-2016 confirmation number!

Starting May 5, 2015, y ou can check your DV-2016 Green Card Lottery entry status at dvlottery.state.gov .

Please keep in mind that Entrant Status Check online is the ONLY means by which you will be notified of your selection for further processing in the Diversity Visa lottery. You will never be notified or requested to pay fees by mail, email, phone -- ONLY through online status check.

If you have misplaced your DV lottery confirmation number, you can use the retrieval tool in Entrant Status Check to recover it at https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/

If you have been selected as a WINNER and need help with the visa application process (if you are outside of the United States and will apply at the US embassy or consulate in your country) or with adjustment of status (if you are residing in the United States and eligible for adjustment of status), you are welcome to contact our office for advice or legal assistance. We would be glad to help!